Sampler



NOV. l, 1966 R, PELL 3,282,114

SAMPLER Filed- March 27, 1964 INVENTR RODNEY LRN@ PELL f57i Www/vb IUnited States Patent C) M 3,282,114 SAMPLER Rodney Lang Pell, 11 HaynesClose, Blackheath, London, England Filed Mar. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 355,176Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 9, 1963, 14,143/ 63 8Claims. (Cl. 73-425) The invention relates to a sampler such as a swab,spatula, or pair of tweezers or forceps suitable for exam-ple, formedical, biological, Zoological or archaeological use or for a needlefor taking blood samples. The inventive idea is to provide such asampler with a flexible sheath or bag which may be held back while thesampler is in use and is replaceable after use to provide protection foithe sample. Such a device may be sold sterilized, need not be fingeredas the sample is taken, and may then be resealed for preservation.

The invention provides a device for taking samples which comprises asampler sealed inside and attached to a bag of flexible sheet material.The flexible sheet should be of a thickness and quality such that it canbe easily manipulated and yet resist the stresses of sterilization,storage, transport (possibly postage) and handling before and duringexamination. Advertising and/ or instructional matter may be printed onor otherwise applied to the bag. The bag near the operative end of thesampler may be provided with means such as a contact adhesive forassisting in its replacement over the sampler. Such means may operate inconjunction with a folding of the bag and/or a separate adhesive coverin such a way as to retain the bag in a folded closed position. Asampler according to the invention may be provided with an integrallabel for the recording for example of details of the sample or such alabel may be applied to the bag by the user. A label is preferablyattached to the bag at the same place and/or in the same way as thesampler itself so as to facilitate assembly. A label may co-operate withthe bag to assist in its replacement over the sampler by being providedwith an Iadhesive to which the film may stick, possibly only at a par-ttreated with a selfadhesive which is exposed to the label only afterfolding the bag.

A preferred device according to the invention comprises a sampler sealedinside and attached to a bag of exible sheet material with a labelattached to the sampler and the bag, the label and/o1 the bag being sotreated with a self-adhesive near the distal end of the sampler that thebag may be sealed over the sampler after use.

The invention is particularly applicable to swabs which can be cheaplymass produced prepacked and presterilised without limitation as to thenature of the swab -stick which may be the conventional wooden articleor of a smooth surfaced synthetic substance or tightly rolled paper orrubber or plastic coated metal or wood which may be flexible enough toprevent damage by bending and will not splinter; or as to the shape ornature of the swab head which may be of the conventional wool or of amedium for the support of the bacterial growth.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings which show device-s according to the invention comprisingbacteriological swabs.

The device shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a swab having a wooden stick 1and a head 2 and attached to a bag of thin polyethylene film and to alabel 4. The bag 3 is shown held back as when the swab is in use. Whenextended the bag 3 goes well beyond the head 2, and initially the end issealed. The label 4 has a strip 5 of `self-adhesive which will adherenear the distal end of Patented Nov. l, 1966 ICC the bag 3 on the sidefacing into the paper. The label 4 is printed on the reverse side andmarked with spaces for a patients name, the date and other notes. Thenear side of the label 4 i-s for trademark use since it can be seenthrough the sealed bag and because of the bag cannot be written on whenthe ba-g has been resealed.

The user cuts off the end of the bag 3 and draws it back to thepositionshown in the drawing for use. After use the bag 3 is againextended over the swab, closed by folding so as to bring the strip ofadhesive on the bag 3 into register with that (5) on the label 4, andsealed by pressing the two strips together. Notes may then be written onthe reverse on the label 4.

FIGURES 2 to 6 illustrate a modified device comprising yabacteriological swab, which in the best embodiment of the inventionknown to us and its use. The reference numerals used thereon indicatethe same parts as in FIGURE l. The swab stick 1 is of tightly rolledpaper. The stick 1 is attached to the bag 3 by means of a toggle 6,comprising a short tube `of comparatively rigid polyethylene forcefitted near the end of the stick l, retained between a heat se-al 7comprisng the end of the ba-g 3 and an interrupted heat seal 8 betweenthe sides of the bag 3. The label 4 is made of paper having aself-adhesive coating by which the label adheres near the distal end ofthe bag 3 (unlike FIGURE 1 in which the label is initially `attachednear the proximal end). The majority of the self-adhesive is initiallycovered with a layer of waxed protective paper.

FIGURES 2 to 6 demonstrate a sequence of operations by which the swabmay be used. FIGURE 2 shows where the label 4 may be cut ofi to open thebag 3. FIG- URE 3 shows the bag 3 being drawn back to expose the samplerhead 2. The sample is then taken and FIGURE 4 shows the bag 3 beingpinched and replaced over the head 2. The end of the bag 3 is thenfolded over twice as shown in FIGURE 5 and stuck down by the label 4(FIGURE 6) from which the protective paper is removed.

I claim:

1. A sampling device for specimens comprising an elongated samplerincluding an end having means for collecting a specimen, a bag of exiblesheet material longer than said sampler enclosing said sampler, said baghaving a closed end and an opening adjacent the opposite end to permit asample-collecting end of said sampler to be directed through the openingIand exposed to enable a specimen to be collected while a portion ofsaid sampler is still retained in said bag, said bag having an endportion which is foldable over the opening of said bag, and means onsaid bag for securing the folded-over portion of said bag over theopening to re-close the bag.

2. A sampling device according to claim 1, wherein said -sampler issecured to said bag at an end remote from `the opening.

3. A sampler according to claim 1, wherein said bag is a tube offlexible synthetic plastics material, said bag being closed at the endremote from said opening.

4. A sampler according to claim 1, wherein said means for securing saidfold-over portion of the bag includes adhesive.

5. A sampler according to claim 4, including a label portion defined onsaid folded-over portion, at least part of the adhesive being carried bysaid label portion.

6. A sampling device according -to claim 1, wherein said sampler is asurgical swab.

7. A sampler according to claim 2, wherein said sampler includes a widerinner end portion, said bag being heat sealed across a portion of saidbag to conne the inner end portion of said sampler within the bagadjacent the closed end.

n o 4 8. A sampling device for specimens comprising an References Citedby the Examiner elongated sampler including an end having means for col-UNITED STATES PATENTS lecting a specimen, a. bag o f exible sheetmaterial en- 2,835,246 5/1958 Boettger 73-425'2 X CIOSlng Sald Samplerand having an opening to permit the r 2,902,146 9/1959 D oherty 12812 XSample-collecting end to be exposed and to enable a specr- 0 3,175,5533/1965 Mattson 218 12 men to be collected, said bag having a portionadjacent the opening for closing the opening after the sampler is LOUISR- PRINCE, Primary Examnef repositioned within said bag. S. C. SWISHER,Assistant Examiner.

1. A SAMPLING DEVICE FOR SPECIMENS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SAMPLERINCLUDING AN END HAVING MEANS FOR COLLECTING A SPECIMEN, A BAG OFFLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL LONGER THAN SAID SAMPLER ENCLOSING SAID SAMPLER,SAID BAG HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPENING ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END TOPERMIT A SAMPLE-COLLECTING END OF SAID SAMPLER TO BE DIRECTED THROUGHTHE OPENING AND EXPOSED TO ENABLE A SPECIMEN TO BE COLLECTED WHILE APORTION OF SAID SAMPLER IS STILL RETAINED IN SAID BAG, SAID BAG HAVINGAN END PORTION WHICH IS FOLDABLE OVER THE OPENING OF SAID BAG, AND MEANSON SAID BAG FOR SECURING THE FOLDED-OVER PORTION OF SAID BAG OVER THEOPENING TO RE-CLOSE THE BAG.